THE International Day for Persons with Disabilities we celebrated this week always brings mixed emotions.

On the one hand, I’m thinking of the Stelios Award for Disabled Entrepreneurs in the UK – 2012.

The event, held in partnership with the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation and the charity Leonard Cheshire Disability, never ceases to amaze and inspire me with truly uplifting stories of individual struggles of self-help in overcoming economic hardship and petty discrimination.

On the other, I’m left saddened and frustrated by society’s continued indifference to the wider question of disability and its impact on individuals, their families and communities.

When Leonard Cheshire Disability approached me six years ago about sponsorship, I wanted to work with them to reward entrepreneurial talent among disabled people.

Every year we interview and assess budding businessmen and women, who have followed their dreams and refused to give up on their hopes of independence, even when other people have written them off.

Unfortunately, writing people off is something we seem rather good at.

This year’s winner, David Hawkins, a paraplegic entrepreneur whose company Cyclone Technologies supplies wheelchairs and fitness equipment, is a classic case of overcoming adversity.

Unfortunately, writing people off is something we seem rather good at.

About 50 per cent of disabled adults are out of work, a figure which, regardless of the economic climate, has remained static for several years. Considering 18 per cent of the population is disabled, this is surely unacceptable.

Self employment is often the only option because it is more flexible but at a time when small businesses should be encouraged, disabled entrepreneurs face extra hurdles.

Many are unable to access loans so they can start or grow their business and their applications fail because they are deemed to be too much of a risk. Given the state of UK banking, I see no short-term remedies here.

None of this has anything to do with individual talent, ability or drive; many of the disabled business people I have met have all of this and more.

Their refusal to give up on their dreams not only gives them financial independence but also provides a measure of relief to spiralling taxpayer-funded welfare budgets.

Our past winners have shown their ability to persevere and offer something unique. They include a travel agency that allows blind travellers to experience the world through the eyes of sighted fellow tourists, music classes to help children learn and communicate and a company making gripping aids used by our Paralympians.

These are just a few examples of businesses which are profiting and meeting a need.

This summer’s Paralympic Games inspired a dramatic shift in public attitudes to disability but there is still a long way to go in business.

Disabled entrepreneurs should be encouraged and supported because they are helping to create new jobs and are contributing to our economy.